Container and cover



E. T. ALDINGTON CONTAINER AND COVER July 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. '7, 1955 E. T. ALDINGTON CONTAINER AND COVER July 25, 1961 FiledNov. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Qfice 2,993,636Patented July 25, 1961 2,993,636 CONTAINER AND COVER Elmer T. Aldington,Bethlehem, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Can Company,New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 7, 1955, Ser. No.545,332 8 Claims. (Cl. 22943) This invention relates to improvements ina container and cover, and more particularly to a paper container of thes'o-called heavy-duty type frequently used for the packaging of variousfoodstuffs, the container having secured thereto a cover in a new andnovel manner and by a new and novel method, all as will be apparent toone skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of containers and covers have beenprovided for the packaging of different foodstuffs, including foodstuffsmaintained in a cold or frozen condition, such as ice cream, jello,various vegetables, and the like. Insofar as I am aware, these formerlyknown containers were provided with covers in such a manner that ifhandled relatively carelessly during transporting and storing, the coverwould become somewhat loosened, and objectionable leakage result. Also,it was extremely difficult with containers and covers of the type knownheretofore to establish a positive seal between the container and coverin a desirably economi cal manner and maintain reuse value.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide a combination of a container and cover therefor soconstructed economically as to effect an adequate seal between thecontainer and cover, and in a manner to withstand considerable roughhandling in transportation and storage without danger of leakagedeveloping.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a containerand cover secured thereto in such manner as to present a strong rigidconstruction permitting free and easy stacking of the containers oneupon the other and a considerable amount of rough handling withoutdanger of leakage.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a container and coverthereon, wherein a rim bead on the container is forcefully jammed orcompressed into a groove in the cover to unite the parts.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a containerand cover therefore, wherein the container is provided with an outwardlyturned rim bead around the mouth thereof, and the cover is provided witha downwardly opening groove therein, the construction being such thatthe bead of the container will not freely enter the groove of the cover,but is forcefully jammed or crushed into that groove in order to unitethe parts.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of apaper container having an outwardly turned rim bead around the mouththereof, and a rigid cover having a downwardly opening groove thereinwith means affording a partial restriction at the entrance to thegroove, the bead of the container being forcefully jammed into thegroove of the cover to at least partially overlie the restricting meansat the groove entrance.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a papercontainer having a hollow outwardly rolled rim bead around the mouththereof and a rigid cover having a downwardly opening groove thereinwith means partially restricting the entrance to the groove, the bead onthe container initially having a shape such that it is too large toeasily pass by the restricting means into the groove, but the head onthe container being compressed forcefully into the groove so that itexpands laterally above the restricting means when inside the groove.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a container with a cover attachedthereto, embodying principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary central vertical sectionalview of the structure of FIG. 1, illustrating the initial shape of thecontainer bead in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic showing in centralvertical section, with parts in elevation, of die mechanism for applyingthe cover to the container, the mechanism being shown in an initialstage of operation;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of thestructure of FIG. 3 illustrating the final operation of the die meansjust before separation to release the container and cover attachedthereto; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View illustratinga slightly diiferent form of construction, wherein a gasketing materialis used.

As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, there is shown acontainer 1 of the so-called heavyduty type which has a substantiallyflat bottom and which is generally frusto-conical in shape. Thiscontainer is preferably made out of relatively heavy paper stock, whichis coated, impregnated, or otherwise treated with a suitable wax orequivalent substance to render the same liquid proof withoutcontaminating or adding any unwelcome taste to the contents of thecontainer.

As seen in FIGURE 1, a cover is attached to the top of the container ina firm and secure manner, the cover being generally designated by thenumeral 2. As will be more apparent hereinafter, the seal is such thatwhen the cover is removed some pressure must be applied, and the covercannot be replaced on the container in the same manner it was beforeremoval.

Now in reference more particularly to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that thecover is preferably made of stiff material in comparison with the paperof the container. The cover may very satisfactorily be made of metal,such as sheet metal stamped into the desired shape. Obviously, any formof decoration or written matter, such as advertising and productidentification, may be placed on the external surface of the cover to bevisible to the prospective customer.

The cover embodies a substantially flat central portion or diaphragm 3surrounded by an upstanding wall 4 for telescopic association with thecontainer 1. This wall 4 merges into a laterally extending portion 5which in turn merges into a depending skirt or outer wall 6 providedwith an inwardly turned bead like formation 7, or any equivalentformation partially restricting entrance to the downwardly openinggroove between the walls 4 and 6. This downwardly opening groove betweenthe walls 4 and '6 is for the purpose of receiving a rim bead on thecontainer to be later described. The cover, as above set forth, ispreferably rigid and unyielding with respect to the container when thecontainer is capped.

Now with reference to the same figure, it will be seen that thecontainer 1 may be provided with the usual beadlike formation 8 spacedbelow the mouth of the container, which normally functions as a seat fora cover, so covers of other kinds might be utilized with the samecontainer. In the instance of the present invention, however, this seatdoes have the function of providing a flexible or takeup connectionbetween the portion of the container expanded by insertion of the coverand the main body pot tion of the container below the formation 8. Thisnot only prevents distortion of the main body portion when the lid isforced in place, but also prevents possible disruption of any coating orequivalent applied to the'container.

The upper portion of the container is provided with an outwardly rolledrim bead generally indicated by numeral 9, and this rim bead ispreferably hollow. When the rim bead is attached to the cover, it isdistorted from its original shape, and that original shape is indicatedby dotted lines. It will be seen that immediately above the seat 8, thecontainer wall, prior to attachment of the cover, extends inwardly asindicated at 10 to define an annular region of less diameter than thecover. Above that point 10 the wall flares outwardly at a greater anglethan the body part below the formation 9 terminating in a curve at 11,merging into an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion 12 which inturn merges into an inwardly curvate laterally extending portion 13. Atthe junction 14 between the parts 12 and 13 of the rim bead, thecontainer bead had an original diameter greater than the inside diameterof the restricting element 7 on the cover. Thus, it will be seen thatthe container and cover are originally so constructed that the rim beadon the container will not enter the groove in the cover in any easymanner but actually must be forced into that groove.

With the use of suitable apparatus, one example of which is more fullydisclosed hereinafter, the container rim bead is jammed or crushed intothe cover groove. This results in a compression and distortion of therim bead to substantially the full line position of FIG. 2. It will beseen that portion 10 of the upper margin of the container is forcedoutwardly so that there is a sealing contact between the container walland the cover wall 4 at the annular area 15. The junction point 14 ofthe container rim bead is pushed past the restricting element 7, and theentire rim bead crushed into the groove so that the rim bead overliesthe restricting element 7, and thus other sealing points are establishedat the locations 16, 17 and 18, the first with the lateral portion ofthe cover, the point or annular region 17 with the cover skirt 6, andthe' annular region 18 with the restriction element 7 at the topthereof. The sealing at the annular region 16 is enhanced also by theexpansion of the container wall above the formation 8.

It will be noted that the cover is firmly secured to the container afterthe compression of the container rim bead into the groove, and the covermust be forcefully removed in which operation the rim bead is againdistorted or bent out of shape so that the cover cannot be replaced inthe manner it was prior to removal.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 I have illustrated one form of apparatus that issatisfactory for capping the container with the cover 2. This apparatusbriefly includes a housing 19 having a center support 20 in which apiston 21 is reciprocable. At the top thereof the piston carries alimiting plate 22 which abuts the rim around the open top of the housingwhen urged upwardly by a spring 23. On top of the limiting plate 22 is acontainer holding plate 24 having an elevated central portion to seatwithin the bottom flange of the container as seen in FIGURE 3.

The open top of the housing is defined by an annular rim 25 having anannular groove 26 therein with an annular elevation 27 on the inside ofthe groove.

The upper or punch dye comprises any suitable form of plunger 28,carrying a housing 2 on the underside of which is a die plate 30 shapedto fit within the cover 2, and provided with an annular groove 31 toreceive the groove defining portion of the cover. Inside the housing 29above the plate 30 is a suitable heating element, which may well be anelectrical element energized by a pair of conductors 33 that may beconnected to any suitable source of electrical power in a known manner.

In capping the container, the container 1 is first seated on theplatform or plate 24 as seen in FIGURE 3, and the cover disposed looselyon top of the container. Then the upper die is lowered, forcing thecontainer down into the housing 19 against the action of the spring 23until the rim bead on the container is engaged by the annular projection27. Further movement of the punch die causes a crushing or compresssionof the container rim bead, forcing it inside the cover groove above therestricting element, as seen in FIGURE 4 giving the container rim beadthe shape and union with the cover as shown best in FIGURE 2.

contemporaneously with the jamming of the container rim bead into thecover groove the heating element 32 may be energized, thus heating theplate 30 and consequently the container cover 2. This heating results ina melting of the wax or equivalent material carried by the container atthe rim bead, which wax will again harden upon removal of the punch dieand provide a more complete seal between the container and the cover,bonding the two together. Obviously, the heating unit may or may not beused as is desirable in the particular instance, and depending to someextent upon the commodity in the container.

In FIGURE 5 I have shown how gasketing material may be used with theinstant invention, if so desired. In this regard substantially anysuitable substance may be used such as amorphous wax, latex or syntheticrubber substances, resin dispersions, compounds of two or more of thesame, and various other materials.

The gasketing material, indicated at 35, may be smeared on the rim beadof the cup or preferably applied in the groove of the cover, along theoutside of the wall 4 in the container contacting region, or both. Inmost cases an application of the gasketing material in the cover grooveis satisfactory to insure a positive hermetic seal. When the cover isforced on the container the disposition of the material 35 would besubstantially as shown in FIGURE 5 with the open areas substantiallyfilled and a light film of the material between the container bead andthe cover at the contact or sealing areas 15, 16 and 17.

The application of heat at the time of application of the cover may ormay not be used with the gasketing material, depending upon theparticular material used.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a container andcover tightly joined together by the forceful compression of a containerrim into a cover groove in which the container rim will not initiallyenter without the aid of force, thus providing an effective and tightclosure with adequate sealing. When so joined to gather, the coveredcontainer will withstand considerable rough handling without danger ofleakage, and the containers may be easily stacked one upon the other toany definite height.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be made tothe described embodiment without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a paper container having a readily deformable hollowoutwardly turned rim head around the mouth end, a relatively rigid andunyielding cover on said container, said cover having an annular rimformation embodying an inner wall and an annular depending skirt spacedfrom but connected to said inner wall defining a downwardly openingannular groove receiving the rim bead of the container, the containerrim bead being initially too large to fit in said groove, and saidcontainer rim bead being permanently crushed and distorted out of itsoriginal shape into said groove to secure the cover on the container.

2. In combination, a paper container having a readily deformable hollowoutwardly turned rim bead around the mouth end, a relatively rigid andunyielding cover on said container, said cover having an annular rimformation embodying an inner wall and an annular depending skirt spacedfrom but connected to said inner wall defing a d nwardly opening annulargroove receiving the.

rim bead of the container, said skirt terminating in an inwardly rollededge portion, the container rim bead being initially too large to entersaid cover groove past said rolled edge portion, and said container rimbead being crushed out of its Original shape and into said groove tooverlie said rolled edge portion on the cover skirt.

3. In combination, a paper container having readily deformable outwardlyturned rim bead around the mouth thereof, and a stiff and unyieldingcover on said container having a downwardly opening groove one wall ofwhich carries an inwardly projecting part adjacent the entrance to thegroove which partially restricts the entrance to an extent preventingfree entrance into the groove of the container rim bead, and said rimbead being permanently crushed out of its original shape and jammed intosaid groove at least partially beyond said projecting part.

4. In combination, a paper container having a readily deformable hollowoutwardly turned bead formation around the mouth thereof, and a stiifunyielding cover having a downwardly opening groove therein receivingsaid bead formation, means partially restricting said groove adjacentthe entrance thereto to an extent preventing easy entrance of said beadformation, and said bead formation being crushed out of its originalshape and at least partially flattened into said groove to overlie saidmeans.

5. In combination, a paper container having a readily deformable hollowrim bead around the mouth thereof including an outwardly and downwardlysloping part terminating in an underturned inwardly extending part, anda rigid relatively unyielding cover having a downwardly opening groovetherein with means partially restricting entrance to the groove to aless diameter than the junction between said parts of said container rimbead, and said rim bead being partially crushed and flattened into saidgroove until said junction overlies the restricting means.

6. In combination, a paper container having an upright body terminatingin a readily deformable rim bead around an open mouth, said body havinga hollow annular beadlike formation below said rim bead and an outwardlyflaring wall portion above said formation, a relatively rigid cover onsaid container having a depending central part defined by a wall of lesstaper than said flaring wall portion of the container and of greaterdiameter than a portion of said flaring Wall portion, and a relativelyunyielding formation on said cover defining a downwardly opening groovearound the upper part of said cover wall receiving the container rimbead, whereby when the cover is forced on the container the flaring wallportion is expanded by the cover to insure sealing engagement withoutdistortion of the container wall below said bead-like formation.

7. In combination, a flexible container having a par"- tially coiledbead portion surrounding the mouth of said container, and a rigid andunyielding cover seated upon said container having an annular rimportion in spaced three-point contact with said bead portion along thetop, outer side and bottom of said head portion, said head portion beingconstructed of a readily deformable material and prior to seating ofsaid cover including an outwardly and downwardly extending wall sectionand arcuate end wall section, the juncture of said wall sections beingof lesser outer diameter than the inner diameter of the container beadportion so that said bead portion is partially collapsed and coiledwithin the cover rim portion during seating of the cover to preventaccidental dislodgment of said cover.

8. In combination, a flexible container having an outwardly flaring neckportion and an integral readily deformable tubular bead portion at theupper end of said neck portion and comprising generally parallel top andbottom wall sections, a connecting outer side wall section, a curvedinner side wall section and an upwardly and outwardly extending wallsegment integral with said bottom wall section and bearing against saidcurved inner side wall section to provide a semi-coiled bead portion;and a relatively rigid and unyielding cover seated upon said containerand having a body portion generally conforming to said neck portion ofthe container and an annular rim portion comprised of a generally flattop wall section and connecting generally flat outer side wall sectionengageable with the top wall and outer side wall sections, respectively,of said container, said rim portion having a curved end Wall sectionintegral with said rim outer side wall section bearing against saidbottom wall section of the container to prevent dislodgment of thecover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,795,489 Hothersall Mar. 10, 1931 2,169,804 Kniesche Aug. 15, 19392,181,545 Boothby et al Nov. 28, 1939 2,233,489 Reifsnyder Mar. 4, 19412,306,973 Mysels Dec. 29, 1942 2,358,889 Thomas Sept. 26, 1944 2,405,823Gaylord Aug. 13, 1946 2,406,894 OBrien Sept. 3, 1946 2,409,788 OsborneOct. 22, 1946 2,434,377 Watson Jan. 13, 1948 2,493,086 Reifsnyder Jan.3, 1950 2,721,686 Reifsnyder Oct. 25, 1955 2,746,669 Moore May 22, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 129,909 Sweden Aug. 2, 1947 477,888 Canada Oct. 16, 1951

